Cubs halt Tanaka’s win streak

CHICAGO (AP) – Masahiro Tanaka had his regular-season unbeaten streaked snapped at 42 starts, allowing a career-high four runs in six innings, and the Chicago Cubs beat the New York Yankees 6-1 on Tuesday night.

The Cubs honored the retiring Derek Jeter before the game, then handed Tanaka his first loss in nine major league starts.

It was a surprising turn, considering Chicago came in with the majors’ worst record and the right-hander from Japan had been sensational.

Tanaka (6-1) had been 34-0 in Japan and North America the last two seasons. He did drop Game 6 of the Japan Series last year before earning the save in Game 7. But postseason aside, he hadn’t lost since the Seibu Lions beat the Rakuten Golden Eagles on Aug. 19, 2012.

Luis Valbuena had three hits with two doubles and scored two runs. John Baker had two hits, scored a run and drove in one.

Mike Olt drove in three. Jason Hammel (5-2) pitched solid ball into the sixth and Hector Rondon retired Jeter on a grounder with the bases loaded in the ninth, preserving the win on a hot and rainy night with thunder and lightning.

Tanaka had his worst outing, allowing eight hits to match a career high. He struck out seven and walked one.

Coming off his first major-league shutout against the Mets last week, Tanaka gave up RBI singles to Emilio Bonifacio in the third and to Olt in the fourth to make it 2-0.

The Cubs added to their lead with two in the sixth on back-to-back sacrifice flies by Olt and Baker after Mark Teixeira singled in a run in the top half for New York.

That was enough for Hammel, who allowed one run and four hits in 5 2/3 innings while striking out six and walking one.

The Cubs saluted Jeter before the game, with shortstop Starlin Castro presenting him a number 2 from the famed Wrigley Field scoreboard at home plate as the crowd cheered. And there was a loud ovation when the Yankees’ captain batted in the first.

Melky Cabrera and Erik Kratz also homered for the Blue Jays, who won their second straight and sixth in eight games.

J.A. Happ (3-1) struck out six in the first three innings and picked up his third win in four starts since joining the rotation.

Jonny Gomes hit a two-run homer for Boston. The losing streak is the longest for the Red Sox since 2012.

Casey Janssen picked up his fourth save, getting Mike Napoli to ground into a double play and end it.

Felix Doubront (2-4) left the game after Jose Reyes and Cabrera opened the fifth with back-to-back doubles.

Athletics 3, Rays 0

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Drew Pomeranz won his third consecutive start since moving from the bullpen into the rotation, Coco Crisp drove in two runs before departing with an injury, and the surging Oakland Athletics beat the Rays.

Pomeranz (4-1) allowed three hits, two walks and had three strikeouts over five innings. He has not given up a run in his three starts, all of which lasted five innings.

Crisp hit a two-run double and John Jaso had an RBI single off Jake Odorizzi (2-4) as Oakland took a 3-0 lead in the second.

The AL West-leading Athletics have won 10 of 11, outscoring their opponents 74-18 over the stretch.

Indians 6, Tigers 2

CLEVELAND – Trevor Bauer outpitched former Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander and tamed Detroit’s menacing lineup, leading the Indians to a win over the Tigers.

Bauer (1-1) was recalled earlier in the day for his second start this season, and the right-hander held the AL’s top hitting team to just two runs and seven hits in six-plus innings.

Mike Aviles hit a two-run double in the second when the Indians scored four runs off Verlander (5-3), who didn’t settle in until the damage was already done.

David Murphy homered in the seventh for last-place Cleveland.

Mariners 6, Rangers 2

ARLINGTON, Texas – Kyle Seager had three hits, including a two-run single that sparked a four-run third inning, andd the Mariners beat the Rangers.

Seager, a career .256 hitter in four seasons, is hitting .329 against the Rangers.

Robinson Cano, Dustin Ackley and recent call-up Nick Franklin added two hits each as the Mariners, last in the American League in hitting, had every member of the batting order reach base during the first four innings,

That backed the pitching of right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma (3-0), who allowed both runs and six hits through eight innings.

Iwakuma had a streak of 17 consecutive scoreless innings end with a home run by Adrian Beltre leading off the second inning that made it 1-0.

Andre Rienzo (4-0) limited the Royals to two runs and five hits over six innings. He struck out a career-high eight.

The Royals’ record dropped to 5-15 against American League Central opponents.

Gordon Beckham and Conor Gillaspie, who each had three hits, singled before Dunn homered in the eighth off right-hander Aaron Crow, who had allowed two three-run homers in his past two appearances.

Beckham has hit safely in 13 of his past 15 games, while Gillaspie increased his average to .347.

Royals rookie right-hander Yordano Ventura (2-4) took the loss, allowing four runs and seven hits, including a Tyler Flowers home run, in six innings.

Angels 9, Astros 3

ANAHEIM, Calif. – David Freese had a season-high four RBIs after getting reinstated from the disabled list, Tyler Skaggs pitched seven solid innings and the Angels scored five unearned runs against Scott Feldman to beat the Astros.

Mike Trout had three RBIs in his second game of the season as a designated hitter, helping the Angels win for the ninth time in 12 games.